Adjustable support device for modelmaking



Sept. 10, 1968 J. P. STOLTZ ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT DEVICE FOR MODELMAKING Filed Sept. 19, 1966 wins m H w. mm m M P TM E ii: gr. f w L m c fi m w a T Z a f w W 3 3 Q .H W. 3 G 6 B H ,W :3 Li: G 1 H I/ mm \./\..W L w- ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,400,926 ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT DEVICE FOR MODELMAKING John P. Stoltz, 737 N. Broadway, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. 10706 Filed Sept. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 580,292 Claims. (Cl. 269309) This invention relates to an adjustable modelmaking supporting device for holding miniature model parts in a fixed position during assembly of a model; more particularly, it relates to a supporting device in which parts can be supported at any position from immediately adjacent a working surface on which the model is being constructed up to a certain height limited by the design of the device.

In industrial model making where exacting and complex models are being constructed, it is desirable to place accurately and to support steadily component parts to be cemented or otherwise joined together. However, because of the small scale, fragility and intricacy of some models, standard methods of bracing components during this foregoing operation, such as by vise or clamp, are unsuitable. As a result, model makers are required to maintain manually the desired orientation of components until the cement sets. There has long been a need for a support which would act as a third hand and the present invention has proved to be exceptionally satisfactory because of its light weight, compact construction and versatility. Its slim, columnar arm is able to support otherwise inaccessible components from either above or below.

In fact, the present invention is more than just a third hand since it is able to support miniature components in locations heretofore inaccessible without the use of delicate hand instruments. Its versatility is highlighted by the novel suspension feature, more fully described below, which enables the supporting device to be positioned above the model to support structures only fractions of an inch above the working surface. Yet the same device may be employed to support structures well above the working surface, the range limited only by the length of the support arm. The present invention is capable of supporting components weighing in the order of one pound with an error in position of less than inch.

The present invention comprises a support body having a longitudinal channel extending therethrough. A columnar support arm having a supporting element at one end thereof, which supporting element engages with and maintains in a fixed position a component of a model during a joining operation, is slideably receivable in the longitudinal channel. Locking means on the support body retain the support arm in a fixed position relative to the support body. In addition, pairs of horizontal parallel tubular sleeve members are mounted on the base of the support body to receive long rods or other suitable means, not part of the present invention, allowing the support to be suspended above a model if a particular component is not accessible from below.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present support;

FIG. 2 shows an elevation of the present support with the support arm in its upper position; and

FIG. 3 shows an elevated section of the present support with the support arm in its lower position.

The support of the present invention comprises three major components: a support body member 11, a support arm 21, and a locking means 31.

The support body member 11 has an upper member 12,

a vertically extending longitudinal channel of U-shaped cross-section which may be formed in one piece if the support is to be made of metal or plastic rather than Wood. A retaining member 20, broken into two sections 20a and 20b, is mounted in the upper member 12 parallel to the bottom of the vertical channel and spaced outwardly therefrom. The upper member 12 is joined at one end to a rectangular base plate 13 which has a substantially square central opening 14. Also mounted on the base plate 13 are four tubular sleeve members 15, 16, 17 and 18, whose axes are substantially parallel to the respective edges of the base plate 13 thus forming two parallel horizontal pairs 15, 16 and 17, 18.

The support arm 21 is an elongated column of substan tially square cross-section and is so dimensioned that it will fit snugly and yet slide freely in the longitudinal channel 19 of the upper section 12. The channel 19 is so positioned with relation to the base plate 13 that the downward path of the support arm 21 coincides withthe central opening 14 of the base plate 13 allowing the support arm 21 to pass through the central opening 14 below the base plate 13 as shown in FIG. 3. The support arm 21 is restrained from non-axial movement by the walls of the U-shaped channel 19 and by the retaining member 20. A specially configured support fitting 22 is screwed into a bore 23 at one end of the support arm 21. The shank of the support fitting 22 is formed with ordinary screw threads to facilitate installation and removal while insuring a secure connection between the arm 21 and fitting 22. A first portion of the head of the support fitting 22 is formed with a concave cradle-like seating surface to give support to a model component from below. Integrally formed with one of the lower sides of the cradle is a second hook-like portion whose concave seating surface is oriented toward the main body of the support arm 21 in a direction opposite to that of the concave seating surface of the first portion. An extension rod 24 may be attached to one end of the support arm 21 by unscrewing the support fitting 22 from the bore 23, screwing threaded shank 26 of extension rod 24 into bore 23, and screwing support fitting 22 into bore 25 of extension rod 24. The extension rod 24 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. A second threaded bore 27 may be provided at the opposite end of the support arm 21. It serves the same purpose as bore 23 but facilitates the adaptation of the support from one mode of operation to another.

A preferred embodiment of the locking means 31 comprises an eccentric cam 32 whose axis of rotation is parallel to the planes of base 13 and the bottom member of the upper section 12. The eam 32 is rotatably mounted on first pin 33 which is secured at either end tothe parallel sides of the upper section 12. A control level 34 is mounted on the cam 32. An elastic band 35 which serves as a cam biassing means is secured at one end to the control lever 34 and at its other end to a second pin 36 which is mounted on the upper section 12 below the first pin 33 as shown best in FIG. 3.

In one mode of operation, the support 10 is placed beneath the model to be cemented and the arm 21 is raised into position below the particular component to be supported. Owing to the configuration of the eccentric cam 32 and the elastic band 35, the arm 21 may be raised without resistance but may not be lowered unless the cam 32 previously has been released. This feature allows the arm 21 to be placed precisely in any desired position beneath a model component. When the desired attitude has been achieved, the arm 21 may be positively locked in place by manually rotating the cam 32 by means of control lever 34 to force the arm 21 into secure frictional contact with the opposite side of channel 12.

A second mode of operation may be employed if a model component is inaccessible from below. In this instance, the support 10 may be suspended above the model as shown in FIG. 3 by passing a pair of rods 41 through any one of the two parallel pair of tubular sleeve members (15 and 16 or 17 and 18) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. These rods, not part of the present invention, may be mounted in cantilever fashion or supported between a pair of saw horses or the like. The support arm 21 is inserted into the longitudinal channel 12 from below through the opening 14 of the base 13 land may be lowered into position below the model component while the locking means 31 is held in a released position. When the hook-like portion of the head of the support fitting 22 is beneath the component to be supported, the locking means 31 may be released and the support arm 21 is raised into a precise position as before.

I claim:

1. An adjustable modelmaking support device for holding miniature model parts in a fixed position during assembly of a model comprising:

(a) an upright support body having a longitudinal channel extending completely therethrough from top to bottom,

(b) a base portion on the bottom of said support body on which the body seats in an upright position,

() a longitudinally adjustable support arm having a first portion slideably positioned within the channel and a second portion projecting out of one end of the channel,

(d) locking means on said body for contacting the first portion of the arm and retaining it in a fixed position with respect to the channel,

(e) means on said body for receiving suspension means for suspending the body with its base spaced above a surface so that the arm can be extended from the bottom of the channel, and

(f) a support fitting attached to the extended end of the second portion of the arm and having first seating means thereon for supporting a part when the arm is extended from the top of the body and a second seating means for supporting a part when the arm is extended from the bottom of the body.

2. A support as in claim 1 wherein the support fitting comprises a first seating surface in the form of a cradle and a second seating surface integral with the first seating surface in the form of a hook, which second seating sur face has its concave side oriented in an attitude opposed to the attitude of concave side of the first seating surface.

3. A support as in claim 1 wherein the means for suspending the body comprises at least one parallel pair of tubular sleeve members secured to the base portion thereby enabling the support to be suspended above an article to be supported.

4. A support as in claim 1 wherein the locking means comprises an eccentric c'am member rotatably mounted on the support body between and parallel to the opposed sides of the longitudinal channel and biassing means se cured at one point to the cam member and at another point to the support body.

5. A support as in claim 1 wherein an extension rod may be secured to one end of the support arm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

J. F. MCKEOWN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE MODELMAKING SUPPORT DEVICE FOR HOLDING MINIATURE MODEL PARTS IN A FIXED POSITION DURING ASSEMBLY OF A MODEL COMPRISING: (A) AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINAL CHANNEL EXTENDING COMPLETELY THERETHROUGH FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, (B) A BASE PORTION ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID SUPPORT BODY ON WHICH THE BODY SEATS IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, (C) A LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT ARM HAVING A FIRST PORTION SLIDEABLY POSITIONED WITHIN THE CHANNEL AND A SECOND PORTION PROJECTING OUT OF ONE END OF THE CHANNEL, (D) LOCKING MEANS ON SAID BODY FOR CONTACTING THE FIRST PORTION OF THE ARM AND RETAINING IT IN A FIXED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE CHANNEL, (E) MEANS ON SAID BODY FOR RECEIVING SUSPENSION MEANS FOR SUSPENDING THE BODY WITH ITS BASE SPACED ABOVE A SURFACE SO THAT THE ARM CAN BE EXTENDED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CHANNEL, AND (F) A SUPPORT FITTING ATTACHED TO THE EXTENDED END OF THE SECOND PORTION OF THE ARM AND HAVING FIRST SEATING MEANS THEREON FOR SUPPORTING A PART WHEN THE ARM IS EXTENDED FROM THE TOP OF THE BODY AND A SECOND SEATING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A PART WHEN THE ARM IS EXTENDED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY. 